Fluid pressure operated swab



H. W. FLETCHER Filed Aug, 11, 1930 'a'LWEZCM 1 B 25 1 fl A T1 7731"! E Y Dec. 15, 1931.

mum PRESSURE OPERATED SWAB .II"IIIII Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD w. FLETCHER, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO HUGHES TOOL COMPANY, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, A CORPORATION OF TEXAS FLUID PRESSURE OPERATED SWAB Application filed August 11, 1930. Serial No. 474,358.

My invention relates to fluid pressure operated swabs and more particularly to the standing valve controlling the inlet of liquid to the eduction tube.

It is an object of the invention to provide a standing valve adapted to form a seat for the swab plunger and to also control the inlet of liquid to the eduction tube.

I also desire to overcome the necessity of a long 'inlet or draft tube, thus allowing the inlet to be placed lower in the well than would otherwise be ossible.

It is a further ObJBCt to better control the inlet of the pressure fluid to a point below the plunger.

In the drawings herewith, Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through the upper end of a pneumatically operated well swabbin apparatus.

ig. 2 is a similar section through the lower end of such an installation, showing my invention applied thereto.

I contemplate employing my invention in connection with a pneumatically operated swab such as is disclosed in the prior application filed by Norman H. Ricker on October '14, 1929, Serial No. 399,654. I employ a well casing 1, having a special casing head 2, the upper end 3 of which is closed by a bushing 4 having thereon a bullplug or elongated cap 5. There is a lateral outlet 6 on the casing head for the li uid. The interior of the easing head has a s oulder 7 to support the head 8 for the eduction tube 9. There is also an inlet port for pressure fluid at 10, and a similar fluid connection at 11 leading into the casing.

The eduction tube 9 is set within and spaced slightly from an air inlet pipe 12, which is screwed at its upper end within the casing head and depends downwardly to the well bottom or to the desired level in the well. The lower endof the pipe 10 has connection by means of a coupling 13 to astanding valve support 14.

Said support 14 is tapered downwardly in diameter, and has an inner valve seat 15 to receive the standing valve. Adjacent the valve seat is an upwardly presented shoulder 16 upon which is seated the lower end of the eduction tube 9. Above the support 14 the eduction tube is welded to the pipe 12 at 17 thus spacing the tubes apart and holding them stationary relative to each other.

Within the eduction tube the standing valve is adapted to seat upon the support 14. Said valve has a close fit within the eduction tube at its upper end 18. Below its upper end it is reduced in external diameter and has lateral openings at 19 to allow the passage into its interior chamber 20 of fluid. The lower end of the Valve member is closed and a pad of rubber or similar packing material is secured thereto by a bolt 21. The upper end of the valve member has an inwardly tapered seat 22 thereon to receive the lower end 23 of the swab plunger 24;

Said plunger 24 is cylindrical on its outer surface to fit the interior of the eduction tube. At its lower end it is reduced in external diameter and openings 27 are formed below a valve seat 30 for the Valve 28 supported in a block 29. A valve stem on the valve is slidable in a passage open to receive fluid pressure from below. i r

The fluidpressure employed may be air or 'gas under pressure forced into the pipe 12 and downwardly in the space 31 and through openings 32 at the lower end to the space about the standing valve. The device is inserted the desired level below the surface 33 of the liquid to be pumped. With the parts in position shown in the drawings, the air would accumulate in the space 20 below the plunger and would first force the valve 28 into its seat 30. The plunger would then be raised by the air pressure with its load of liquid.

At the upper end of the well the liquid would pass out through slots 34 in the educ tion tube extension 35 and would'find an exit through the outlet pipe 6. The plunger would be forced past the outlet, but would be stopped by the pressure of fluid trapped in the upper end of the pipe at 36. If the plunger was accidentally forced up without suflicient load of liquid, it would be, stopped by the shock absorbing sleeve 37 of rubber or similar, composition. In either case the valve would'be forced open, the air would exhaust I behind the plunger, and the plunger would drop again to the bottom.

lVhile the plunger is at the upper end of its stroke, the exhaust of the air would allow liquid from the well to raise the standing valve from its seat and enter the eduction tube to its level 33. By the time the plunger has reached the bottom the liquid in the well will absorb the shock of its fall and the plunger will settle to its seat 23 upon the standing valve. The operation may then be repeated.

The use of a standing valve such as I have described enables the lower end of the educ tion tube to be placed close to the bottom of the well if desired. Any sand or parafline or other foreign matter tending to clog the device will be kept stirred up and loosened by the vertical movement of the standing valve as the liquid enters the lower end of the eduction tube. The said standing valve will be reciprocated by the entrance of the liquid and the sand will be settled out below the sea-t 15. During the time the air is lifting the load of the swab and the liquid above it, the standing valve will be closed and will prevent the back pressure from entering the well and interfering with the entrance of liquid from the formation.

What I claim as new is:

1. In a pneumatically operated swab, an eduction tube, a plunger therein, a valve seat at-the lower end of said tube, a standing valve in said seat adapted to support said plunger, said tubeand standing valve having openings to allow pressure fluid to enter below said plunger while said valve is seated.

2. In a pneumatically operated swab, an eduction tube, a pressure fluid inlet pipe spaced outside said tube, a tubular support at the lower end of said pipe, a valve seat therein, a standing valve in said seat, a plunger adapted to be supported on said valve in said tube, said tube and valve having openings to allow pressure fluid to enter below said plunger.

3. In a pneumatically operated swab, an eduction tube, a pressure fluid inlet pipe spaced outside said tube, a tubular support at the lower end of said pipe, a shoulder in said support to support said tube, a valve seat therein, a standing valve in said seat, a plunger adapted to be supported on said valve in said tube, said tube and valve having openings to allow pressure fluid to enter below said plunger.

4. In a pneumatically opera-ted swab, an eduction tube, a pressure fluid inlet pipe spaced outside said tube, a tubular support at the lower end of said pipe, a plunger in said tube, and a standing valve in said support acting to support said plunger, and additional means to admit plunger.

5. In a pneumatically operated well swab,

pressure fluid below said an eduction tube, a plunger therein freely movable from the bottom to the upper end of said tube, means to conduct pressure fluid below said plunger, and a standing valve in said tube to control the inlet of liquid and prevent the pressure fluid from escaping into the well, said standing valve acting to support said plunger at the lower end of its stroke.

6. In a pneumatically operated well swab,

an eduction tube extending from the surface to a point below the liquid level, a vertically movable standing valve in said tube, a plunger in said tube above said valve, said standing valve having lateral ports therein below said plunger, and means to conduct pressure fluid to said ports.

7. In a pneumatically operated well swab, an eduction tube extending from the surface to a point belowthe liquid level, a vertically movable standing valve in said tube, a plunger in said tube above said valve, said standing valve being cup shaped with a seat at its upper end and lateral ports for pressure fluid, said plunger being adapted to be supported on said valve, and means to conduct pressure fluid to said ports.

8. An eduction tube for wells, a valve seat at the lower end thereof, a standing valve vertically movable to and from said seat, a plunger in said tube movable from the lower end to the upper end of said tube, and means to discharge pressure fluid through said standing valve below said plunger.

9. An eduction tube for wells, a valve seat at the lower end thereof; a standing valve controlling the passage of liquid into said tube, a plunger seat on said valve, a plunger in said seat, and means to discharge pressure fluid through said seat below said plun er to move it upwardly to the upper end of said tube.

lO. An eduction tube for wells, a standing valve controlling the entrance of liquid at the lower end thereof, said valve being cup shaped, a plunger adapted to seat on said valve, and means to conductpressure fluid through the sides-of said standing valve below said plunger.

11. An eduction tube for wells, an outer concentric pipe, a tubular support at the lower end of said pipe for said tube, a seat in said support, a standing valve therein, a plunger above said valve movable to the upper end of said tube, there being ports in said tube and said standing valve to allow passage of pressure fluid below said plunger.

In. testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature, this the 7th da of Au st A. 1)., 1930. y gu V HAROLD W. FLETCHER. 

